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Honda's business jet soars in FAA flight tests
Honda Aircraft Co. said today that its new business jet had achieved a major milestone, attaining a maximum operating altitude of 43,000 feet in Federal Aviation Administration tests.
The HondaJet also recorded a climb rate of 3,990 feet per minute. It previously clocked a top speed of 489 miles per hour.
"We are very encouraged by the achievement of these important performance milestones at this early phase of the HondaJet flight test program," Michimasa Fujino, president and CEO of Honda Aircraft, said at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in Geneva.
"Our flight testdataindicate that the aircraft is performing as expected," he said.
Honda Aircraft, based in Greensboro, N.C., has more than 100 orders for the HondaJet, priced at $4.5 million.
The company expects to start building the light-weight, fuel-efficient jets next year. It already has two and plans to have a total of six FAA-conforming HondaJets as it proceeds through the certification process.
Honda Aircraft Co. said today that its new business jet had achieved a major milestone, attaining a maximum operating altitude of 43,000 feet in Federal Aviation Administration tests.
The HondaJet also recorded a climb rate of 3,990 feet per minute. It previously clocked a top speed of 489 miles per hour.
"We are very encouraged by the achievement of these important performance milestones at this early phase of the HondaJet flight test program," Michimasa Fujino, president and CEO of Honda Aircraft, said at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in Geneva.
"Our flight testdataindicate that the aircraft is performing as expected," he said.
Honda Aircraft, based in Greensboro, N.C., has more than 100 orders for the HondaJet, priced at $4.5 million.
The company expects to start building the light-weight, fuel-efficient jets next year. It already has two and plans to have a total of six FAA-conforming HondaJets as it proceeds through the certification process.